View on Iceland: Icelandic IQ, surfing and the case of the missing girl

Photo/ Jónas Erlendsson

Once you've finished browsing through Iceland Monitor’s wide selection of news, events and features, you might like to have a look at some other Iceland-related material from around the world that we collect for you weekly.

Photos/ Reykjavik Metropolitan Police

1.Birna Brjánsdóttir's disappearance - Aftonbladet

This week, the disappearance of Birna Brjánsdóttir made headlines in Scandinavia and Greenland, among them this story in Sweden's Aftonbladet.

Efter att Birna Brjáns­dótt­ir, 20, försvunnit efter en festkväll i Reykjavik pekade spåren mot ett grönländskt fiskefartyg. (Translation: Twenty year old Birna Brjánsdóttir disappeared after a night of partying in Reykjavik and the leads are now placed on a Greenlandic fishing trawler ).

Tre man gripna eftir 20 ariga Birnas forsvinnande

Photo/ Valdís Þórðardóttir

2. Natural selection making education genes rarer, says Icelandic study - The Guardian

A study from Iceland is the latest to raise the prospect of a downwards spiral into imbecility. The research from deCODE, a genetics firm in Reykjavik, finds that groups of genes that predispose people to spend more years in education became a little rarer in the country from 1910 to 1975.

Natural selection making education genes rarer, says Icelandic study

Screenshot/ LA Times

3.Icelandic magic: One U.S. couple's excursions, on view at Photo L.A. - LA Times

Smith and Chamlee’s images are closer to abstraction than landscape photography. Each picture is emotionally resonant, not necessarily a literal reflection of the subject but an expression of what inspired it — the geometric lines, shapes and shadows giving the image a new narrative.

Icelandic magic: One U.S. couple's excursions, on view at Photo L.A.

Photo: Brynjar Gauti

4.Reynisfjara voted one of the top ten beaches in the world- National Geographic

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland: On sunny days on Iceland’s south coast, Reynisfjara Beach’s ink black sand and basalt sea stacks are absolutely stunning. But don’t be lulled: “Powerful waves are known to knock people off their feet." Note from Iceland Monitor:  Powerful waves known to KILL people.  Please beware folks, a tourist DIED at Reynisfjara beach a couple of weeks ago. This is Iceland's most dangerous beach!

21 Best Beaches in the World

Screenshot/ Surfer.com

5. Surfing in Iceland - a lesson in punishment - Surfer.com

Winter is far from welcoming in Iceland, but it’s during this season that many of the region’s best off-the-grid waves come to life. For some time, the locals have had their eyes on one such gem, hidden in the most remote corner of the country, guarded by mountains and ice, and accessible only by boat.

Northern Trespass

Weather

Clear sky

Today

-2 °C

Clear sky

Later today

2 °C

Clear sky

Tomorrow

3 °C